CAREERS INFORMATION FOR VOCALISTS

A few pointers for starting up as a freelance singer

Linda Hirst, Head of Vocal Department, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

› A career is hard to plan – be prepared to do everything for a while, and give 100%.

› Audition for everything you hear about that you feel ready for, and take advice as to whether
you ARE ready. It’s necessary to have an experienced adviser – either a teacher or coach.
Have three or four pieces ready to sing at any time – know every tiny detail of them, and have
them comfortably in your voice so you can be exciting when you sing them.

› Competitions are a good idea even if you hate the idea – it’s worth knowing what you’re up
against.

› Know what’s going on, listen to Radio 3 and find out about the generation of young singers just
above you and listen to their repertoire. Know why you like certain singers more, and what you
admire, and aim for those qualities in your own singing without imitating. Listen to Classic FM
too, to build up your general musical knowledge.

› When you sing; language, personality, instrument and the impression you make are of
importance, and it should be taken for granted that the music is wholly accurate and well
assimilated. Dress well but don’t be distracting, and perhaps sing something expected and well
known, and something unexpected, but within the same fach. Even if you have a big range its
best not to confuse a panel.

› Don’t be afraid to write to someone you admire and ask to go to a rehearsal – they might be
pleased to talk to you.

› Networking is key, so start building up a contact base now. Keep a document with people you
meet and what you talked about. Follow up every possible lead, and if you don’t hear back, try
again until you do. You never know who you will meet on a seemingly random gig in the middle
of nowhere, so it’s best to always try to make friends. Most fixers/agents will book people they
know and trust over someone they don’t.

Juliet Ingram Page 1 07 January 2014

ESTABLISHING A PERFORMING CAREER

This document contains information about:

› Opera companies
› Recital opportunities
› Professional choral work
› Concerts in community venues

Opera

Opportunities are limited by the small number of opera companies in Britain. Young singers
usually have to start in a chorus and can gain experience with the small companies such as
English Touring Opera, Pavilion and Birmingham Opera Company. Contact details are listed in the
British & International Music Yearbook (Published by Rhinegold), which is available within the
reference section of the Jerwood Library.

The following is a list of opera companies that are not listed in the 2013 edition of the British &
International Music Yearbook:

British Youth Opera www.byo.org.uk

British Youth Opera is a training organisation offering operatic experience to singers who have a
serious aim of pursuing careers in opera performance, are at the start of their careers, and are new
to the profession. Singers receive professional training in all aspects of opera through workshops
and masterclasses, and take part in rehearsals and performances in its annual Summer Season of
opera at the Peacock Theatre in London. Successful candidates do not pay to participate in the
Summer Season (for which a contribution towards subsistence will be given) or the Opera
Workshops. Accommodation in London can be provided for a limited number of successful
applicants who would otherwise be unable to participate.

Bury Court Opera http://burycourtopera.co.uk

Bury Court Opera produces one opera every year in early Spring, which is staged in the intimate
environment of The Barn at Bury Court. They are committed to supporting young singers at the
early stage of their careers, giving them an opportunity to perform roles they might otherwise not
have a chance to tackle for many years.

Juliet Ingram Page 2 07 January 2014

Garden Opera www.gardenopera.co.uk
Garden Opera produces one full-length opera, in English, each year with young professional
singers. The company brings intimate and accessible opera directly into the heart of the
community.
Auditions for the 2014 season were held in September 2013. To be considered for audition,
applicants were asked to either email or post their CV to the office.

Hampstead Garden Opera (HGO) www.hgo.org.uk

There are usually two productions a year - in April and November - at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in
Highgate, North London. Performances take place over a two week run. Principals are normally
double cast. HGO aims to provide opportunities for talented young singers in the early stages of a
professional career to gain on-stage and workshop experience, working creatively alongside loyal
amateurs on an equal footing, in a friendly culture, and without the pressures inherent in the world
of professional opera. Since HGO has no regular independent funding, each participating member
is asked to make a donation towards the cost of its productions. Special arrangements may be
made for full-time students and post-graduates experiencing financial difficulties.
Those interested in singing with the company, either as a principal or as a member of the Chorus,
should get in touch with Martin Musgrave at martin.musgrave@hgo.org.uk. Audition notices are
posted on the website in advance of each production. The deadline for applying to audition for the
Spring 2014 production was 9 December 2013.

The Merry Opera Company www.merryopera.co.uk

Merry Opera aims to widen the audience for opera and at the same time to provide a training
ground for up-and-coming professionals of any age and nationality.

Riverside Opera www.riversideopera.co.uk

Riverside Opera is a community opera company based in Kingston-upon-Thames that performs
one major opera each year as well as concerts of operatic music at local venues. The company
aims to provide a bridge for aspiring young singers between their postgraduate studies and the
professional world beyond and employs professional singers, often at the start of their careers, in
the principal roles.
The deadline for the submission of application forms and CVs for principal roles in the Spring 2014
production was 1 November 2013. As the deadline has now passed no further applications will be
considered at this time. The next round of auditions for principal roles in their 2015 production will
begin in the summer of 2014. Please check the website for further details nearer the time.

Juliet Ingram Page 3 07 January 2014

In addition to the smaller opera companies, opportunities with the following companies may
be suitable for more advanced applicants:

English National Opera Chorus www.eno.org

To express your interest in auditioning for chorus or extra chorus work, send your CV/biography to
music@eno.org.

Glyndebourne Festival Chorus http://glyndebourne.com

Glyndebourne Festival Chorus provides the transition from an opera course at a conservatoire to
the professional world, with the opportunity to understudy roles in the Festival and on Tour and, in
some cases, leading to engagement in a principal role on tour and later in the Festival. Chorus
auditions are held annually.

Royal Opera House www.roh.org.uk

Extra Chorus for the Royal Opera are engaged per production. If you wish to be considered,
please apply by sending your performer CV via email to the Chorus Manager, The Royal Opera at
dermot.agnew@roh.org.uk.

Scottish Opera www.scottishopera.org.uk/

Scottish Opera held auditions across the UK for freelance chorus work during summer 2013.
The audition notice was posted on their Facebook page in May and applicants were requested to
send their CV to Iona Jack, Scheduling Officer & PA to Head of Music, on
iona.jack@scottishopera.org.uk.

Welsh National Opera www.wno.org.uk/

If you wish to audition for Welsh National Opera you can complete an online form and upload your
CV (see the ‘Audition Enquiries’ section of the website).

The following opera companies, among others, are listed in the British & International
Music Yearbook, which is available within the reference section of the Jerwood Library:

Creates and stages opera in unpredictable and unusual

Birmingham Opera Company
www.birminghamopera.org.uk/
places in Birmingham. The company does not hold general
auditions. Those singers interested in working with the
company can send a CV, photo and a covering letter at any
time, which will be held on file in case of suitable
opportunities.

Juliet Ingram Page 4 07 January 2014


Classical Opera
www.classicalopera.co.uk
Clonter Opera Theatre
www.clonteropera.com
English Touring Opera
http://englishtouringopera.org.uk
Garsington Opera
www.garsingtonopera.org
Grange Park Opera
www.grangeparkopera.co.uk
London Festival Opera
www.operainterludes.co.uk
New Sussex Opera (NSO)
www.newsussexopera.com
Juliet Ingram
Presents performances of the works of Mozart and his
contemporaries. Runs an Associate Artist Scheme for
exceptional young singers and provides opportunities and
experience for emerging artists through an annual opera
project specifically devised to develop and showcase
outstanding young singers.
Provides high quality training and performance
opportunities for young singers. The mission is to 'bridge
the gap' between conservatoire and professional work. The
audition panel holds a day of general auditions in London,
which is open to any singer who is embarking on, or
returning to, a professional singing career (see website for
the date and venue and for how to apply for an audition).
General auditions are held in London in the summer, with
additional casting auditions held throughout the year. To be
considered for an audition, post or email your CV to Artistic
Administrator Rebecca Moffatt (contact details on the
website).
Provides a platform for the finest young principal singers to
work alongside more established artists. Productions take
place in June and July each year at Wormsley, in the
Chiltern Hills. Talented young singers can apply to be part
of the Understudy and Chorus programmes (collectively
known as the Studio Programme).
An opera company with a summer festival at the Grange
Park estate in Alresford, Hampshire. CVs to the Artistic
Administrator, Scott Cooper scott@grangeparkopera.co.uk.
Opera Interludes and London Festival Opera provide opera
for special events, parties, festivals and theatre
performances.
A pro am company that uses professionals in all key roles
but most of the chorus are unpaid. They aim to present
lesser known or unduly neglected works and to reach as
wide an audience as possible by keeping prices affordable.
They do not hold general auditions for soloists, but only
hold auditions for roles in a particular production. Singers
who would like to be considered for solo roles in future
productions should send a cv/ biography and
Page 5 07 January 2014
 photograph(s), preferably by email.
Auditions for The Beggar's Opera will be held in Lewes on
Saturday January 18th at 10.30a.m. If you are interested in
auditioning for a role contact Nick Milner-Gulland (01273
480189 or mgsouthover@googlemail.com).
Opera Brava A professional opera company specialising in touring
www.operabrava.co.uk opera, corporate events and education work.
A new company with an experimental approach. You can
Opera Erratica
subscribe to the mailing list to receive information about
http://opera-erratica.org
auditions (see ‘Contact’ page).
To be considered for an audition email your CV to
Opera Holland Park production@operahollandpark.com clearly stating if you
www.operahollandpark.com wish to be considered for chorus or principal roles. DO
NOT send sound files.
Opera North
Only if there is a vacancy, or later for solo roles.
www.operanorth.co.uk
Based in Hastings. Stages major opera productions using
both young and established professional soloists. To
Opera South East enquire about performing with Opera South East in a
www.operasoutheast.org.uk Professional capacity, use the ‘contact us’ page to submit
your details in order that you can be contacted about future
relevant auditions.
A touring chamber opera performing set operas in May-
Pavilion Opera
July. Singers seeking auditions should e-mail their CV and
www.pavilionopera.com
photo to Freddie Stockdale freddie@pavilionopera.com.
Presents a new production, sung in English, each year to
Stanley Hall Opera showcase talented young opera stars and musicians,
http://stanleyhall.co.uk alongside experienced professionals at Stanley Hall in
North Essex.
A charity that uses music to help homeless people make
positive changes in their lives through a weekly music
Streetwise Opera
programme in various homeless centres across England
www.streetwiseopera.org
and Wales and by staging opera productions starring their
homeless performers.
Stages two productions a year at a variety of venues.
Seeks to provide opportunities for young singers in the
Surrey Opera
early stages of their careers. Singers interested in a
www.surreyopera.org
principal role should email Surrey Opera’s Administrator,
Penny Locke, for further information and/or to secure an

Juliet Ingram Page 6 07 January 2014


Tête à Tête Productions Ltd
www.tete-a-tete.org.uk
Una Voce Opera Company
http://unavoceopera.co.uk
Woodhouse Festival Opera
http://woodhouseoperafestival.webs.com
audition: pennylocke@googlemail.com. To join the chorus,
contact Mark Edwards: Mark.Edwards@meuk.mee.com. A
short and simple audition is required.
Produces new works and finds new ways of producing old
works, year-round, for audiences throughout the UK and
abroad. In addition, the company hosts many hundreds of
other companies at its annual summer Festival (24 July –
10 August).
Produces fully-staged operas in addition to opera concerts.
Singers are professional, semi-professional or amateur, but
working without remuneration except for agreed expenses.
Those interested in singing with Una Voce Opera Company
should contact the Company Secretary, Miss Martha L.
McAulay: unavoceopera@hotmail.com.
Presents professional opera productions with up and
coming singers at the annual summer opera festival at
Woodhouse Copse in Surrey, which has an Opera Hall and
a lakeside amphitheatre. Privately funded.

Recitals

Music clubs and societies often include singers in their annual programme of recitals. These
societies and clubs are generally members of Making Music, who operate a mailing service for
artists wishing to contact the societies. See the website www.makingmusic.org.uk for more
information about how to pursue performance engagements with Making Music members. See the
British & International Music Yearbook (available in the Jerwood Library) for a list of clubs and
societies and details about the concerts they promote. The British & International Music Yearbook
also lists concert venues including Churches and other venues in London which host recitals.

Park Lane Group Young Artists Auditions www.parklanegroup.co.uk/page28c.html

The Park Lane Group (PLG) provides a prominent platform for outstanding young musicians. PLG
Young Artists are given the opportunity to perform in the Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall and other
prestigious venues, plus sets of events across the UK.
To audition for PLG, musicians need to have an interest in contemporary repertoire. You can
apply as a soloist and/or a member of a duo and/or other ensembles. At the date of the audition
there is an age limit of 29 years for soloists and duos (including accompanists). For ensembles of
three or more, the average age must be not more than 29. Non-British artists are welcome in the

Juliet Ingram Page 7 07 January 2014

New Year Series 2014, but must be resident in the UK for the full Academic Year 2013/14
(holidays apart).

The Concordia Foundation www.concordiafoundation.com

The Concordia Foundation supports talented young musicians and artists at the beginning of their
careers, offering them concert platforms at various venues in London. Concordia looks to develop
the “whole artist” through giving diverse opportunities to its chosen artists. See the website for
details of how to audition.

Young Classical Artists Trust (known as YCAT) www.ycat.co.uk

YCAT provides a unique stepping stone for exceptional young artists who have the potential for
international performing careers. Outstanding young classical soloists and chamber ensembles are
nurtured and promoted for a minimum of three years, after which YCAT aims to introduce the
artists to suitable commercial management to further develop and maintain their international
profile. Auditions take place once a year, in three stages. The auditions are open to all
instruments, but the categories vary each year.

Making Music Award for Young Concert Artists www.makingmusic.org.uk/our-work/awards

Making Music promotes young musicians to provide them with vital concert and recital experience
across the UK. Applicants must be citizens of a member state of the European Community and
normally resident in the United Kingdom, over 21 and under 32 years (singers) of age, and
intending to follow a professional music career.

Professional choral work

› Choral societies – many engage professional soloists

› Cathedral and church choirs provide a limited amount of professional choral work. See the
British & International Music Yearbook (available in the Jerwood Library) for details
› BBC singers
› Session work (mainly in London)

The British and International Music Yearbook (available in the Jerwood Library) includes a list of
'Choirs in Places of Worship'. If you are looking for work as a Church singer, you can write to all
those listed in this directory, enclosing a CV. Your letter should state that are training (or have
trained) at Trinity Laban, that you are (or have been) a member of the Chapel Choir, that you are
keen to develop (or continue) your Church singing work and would like a chance to be on their
deputy list and that you would like to do an audition for them at the earliest opportunity.

Juliet Ingram Page 8 07 January 2014

DepList www.deplist.co.uk
DepList.com supplies singers for church services, weddings, funerals, concerts and other events
that require qualified, classically trained musicians. Singers need to be highly skilled at sight
reading and mainstream choral repertoire. Membership is by recommendation only (by a current
Member of DepList) and you must demonstrate that you fulfil their admission requirements in terms
of skills and experience as a singer.

Genesis Sixteen www.thesixteen.com/page/3180/Genesis-Sixteen

A fully-funded choral training programme bridging the gap from student to professional practitioner
for those aged 18 to 23. Participants in the programme will receive a bursary for UK travel,
accommodation and board costs while participating on the scheme's four courses, around the UK.
Only applicants resident in the UK are eligible to apply.
Applications for the 2014-15 choir opened in November 2013. The deadline for applications is
Friday 17 January 2014 at 5pm.

The Monteverdi Apprentice Scheme www.monteverdi.co.uk/education/apprenticeship

A year-long scheme that aims to give the most promising young musicians on the verge of entering
the profession direct experience of the musical tradition of the Monteverdi ensembles and the
working practices of Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
There are no restrictions on the basis of nationality or age.
CVs and references are accepted at any time during the year and will be held on file, but it is
advisable to resend when the next scheme is advertised to remind them of your interest and
update the information they have.

Ex Cathedra www.excathedra.co.uk
Typically appearing as a chamber choir of around 40 singers, Ex Cathedra Choir is a blend of
professional, professionally-trained amateur and student singers. The choir performs a diverse
range of repertoire, often giving world premieres alongside Early Music. Ex Cathedra presents a
season of concerts in Birmingham and London and also receives invitations to festivals and
concert series across the UK.

Tenebrae www.tenebrae-choir.com
An award-winning professional chamber choir founded and directed by former King's Singer Nigel
Short.

Philharmonia Chorus Professional Singers Scheme

www.philharmoniachorus.co.uk/professional_singers_scheme
Applications are invited from all singers in the first 10 years of their careers. The Chorus contracts
singers concert by concert. See the website for details on how to apply for an audition.

Juliet Ingram Page 9 07 January 2014

Philharmonia Chorus Student Scheme www.philharmoniachorus.co.uk/student_scheme
The scheme is aimed at singing students whom the Chorus Master believes in due course to have
the potential to attain the standard of the Professional Singers Scheme. The Chorus rehearses in
central London. Applications are invited from young singers who are studying at music colleges
and universities or who have recently graduated, and from those who are studying privately with a
view to becoming professional singers. Singers would be in the scheme for two years, and then
may be invited to continue for a further two years. Those selected from the Scheme for concerts
will be paid a fee in the region £100-£150 for each project, depending on the work and the
rehearsal requirements. See the website for details on how to apply for the scheme.

London Voices www.london-voices.co.uk

London Voices draws on their pool of talented freelance professional solo, consort, and choral
singers who live in and around the capital, selecting the most suitable team for each project, which
is then coached by one of its directors, Terry Edwards and Ben Parry. Projects include film
soundtracks, CD recordings, concerts, opera and tours.

Concerts in community venues

Live Music Now! (LMN) www.livemusicnow.org.uk

A charitable scheme that promotes concerts in community venues and aims to assist young
professional musicians at the outset of their careers by providing paid performance opportunities
and training and professional development in the field of music outreach.

Music in Hospitals www.music-in-hospitals.org.uk

Music in Hospitals engages experienced professional musicians who are able to communicate the
joy and therapeutic benefits of live music to audiences of all ages in settings such as in hospitals,
hospices, day care centres, special needs schools, nursing and residential homes. Musicians
engaged by Music in Hospitals are chosen by audition.

Juliet Ingram Page 10 07 January 2014